The
Asian subcontinent is famous for its bright traditions and cultures. The magic
of Indian weddings is in its unique customs and rituals, tasty cuisines, loud
music, wild dances, family gatherings, late night singing sessions, intricate
bridal couture and the beautiful mehndi adorned hands and feet of the bride.
Mehndi, also known as henna in some parts of the world, is a staple in
any Indian wedding. It
can be applied during anytime of the year but when it comes to a woman getting
married, you just cannot escort her to the altar until she has dark, fragrant
designs drawn on her arms, legs, hands and feet.
Special attention is payed to the quality of the mehndi, as it
is preferred that the color and fragrance lasts as long as possible. Dried
henna leaves are crushed to obtain a powdery form, and added with water to form
a thick paste. Ingredients like Shikakai and Amla are added to the paste to
make the mehndi last for weeks.
Aside from the purposes of weddings and bridal
looks, mehndi is used to naturally dye greying hair into a beautiful auburn
color, while some women use it to dye their nails instead of using a chemical
nail varnish
Why is mehndi so important for a wedding? It is an integral part
of the bride’s big day. The mehndi is more of a ritual that takes place the
night before the wedding, where mehndi is applied to the bride’s hands and
feet, while the family enjoys with music and dancing. Other female friends and
family members of the bride also get their hands beautified but their designs
aren’t as intricate, detailed or extensive as the bride’s. After the
application is done, the bride is to leave her skin unwashed and untouched for
the rest of the night so the paste of the mehndi leaves a dark color and
fragrance on her skin. After the mehndi has dried, it is washed with lukewarm
water.
The ritual which makes mehndi so essential is probably its
association to the bride’s good luck and fortune in her married life. The bride
looks for initials of her future husband enweaved somewhere in the design
symbolizing his love for her. The color of the mehndi determines the love and
respect she will get from her in-laws, the darker the better. These are customs
which may or may not have fortune telling abilities though the Indians do hold
it near to their hearts.
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